Collapsible package



1938-v J. w. SIMMONS I COLLAPSIBLE PACKAGE Filed April 9, 1936 Jacrfif W517717110715 Patented Nov. 15, 1938 1 UNITED ,STATES PATENT OFFICE 6Claims.

This invention relates to the art of loose cooperage and is acontinuation, as to all common subject matter, of my prior applicationSerial No. 66,274, filed February 28, 1936.

The present invention is concerned with collapsible packages of theknockdown type, principally employed as shipping containers for fruitandthe like, and has as an object the provision in such packages of animproved wall and bottom construction wherein the bottom is detachablyengageable between the walls.

Another object is the provision of a loose cooperage knockdown packagewherein the side walls are permanently connected in mutually foldablerelation by pre-tied flexible binding elements secured to the walls andextending transversely across and between their top and bottom edges andproviding supports for a detachable bottom.

A further object is the provision in such a package of a novelinterlocking engagement of side wall sections with a detachable bottomand detachable transverse panels; Other objects will be apparent fromthe description to those skilled in the art.' 1

The present disclosure constitutes a practical embodiment by which theinvention is reduced to practice. It is to be understood that thestructural details thereof may be varied as desired so long as theyremain consistent with the scope of the invention as claimed.

Figure 1 of the drawing is a perspective view of the partially openedblank comprising the side walls and lid as permanently connected byprefixed flexible binding elements.

Figure 2 is a top face perspective view of the detachable bottomsection.

Figure 3 is a vertical longitudinal section through the complete packageas service assembled.

Figure 4 is an end elevation of the assembled package. a

In detail the package comprises a pair of Wall sections Weither of planeor slat construction permanently connected in mutually foldable relationby means of flexible binding elements 5, here shown as binding wires,appropriately secured to the outer faces of the walls in pre-tiedrelation with respect to the package as service assembled, and whichbinding elements extend entirely around the package across and betweenthe top and bottom edges of the walls adjacent each end'and at themiddle. The lid L is of proper dimensions to cover the top of thepackage and is stapled or otherwise permanently attached at one end toone of the end binding elements which passes over the top face of thelid providing a loose hinge connection. At its othe1 end the lid carriesfastener members 6, here shown as flexible wire bails, adapted to engagebeneath the other end binding element and to be "5 bent back thereoverto secure the lid in place, the intermediate portion of the lidoverlying the middle binding element, as shown in Fig. 3.

Each wall carries on its inner face cleats 1' secured thereto at eachend and at the middle. in These cleats have their ends flush with thetop and bottom edges of the walls and are grooved longitudinally toprovide guides for receiving slidable end panels 8 and a centerpartition panel 9. In the form as here shown the cleats are each formedof pairs of parallel strips of triangular cross section, the componentelements of each pair being spaced apart sufficiently to provide theguide grooves for the associated panels.

The bottom section B of the package is detachable. It comprises a flatsection of either plane or slat construction. provided at each end andthe middle with grooved cleats I0 identical with the wall cleats, and inregistry therewith when the bottom is assembled. The ends of cleats l0and the underlying portions of the bottom are cut away to provide guiderecesses or seats I l shaped to conform to the cross sectional shape ofthe wall cleats whatever such shape may be.

In assembling the package, the walls are opened to upright position andthe lid swung up. The bottom is then tilted and may be inserted throughanend to engage the seats II with the wall cleats whereupon the bottomis moved into a position between and perpendicular to the side Walls andresting on the underlying flexible binding elements, the under face ofthe bottom being flush with the lower edges of the walls. The panels 8and 9 are then inserted from the top in the wall cleat grooves and areslid down to seat their bottom edges in the grooves of the bottomcleats. After filling, the lid is swung down into place and the fastenerbails 6 are engaged with the adjacent end binding element 5 to securethe lid in closed position.

It is a feature of the invention that the edge areas of the respectivepanels provide tenons en-, gaging in the mortises formed by the cleatgrooves so that the assembled structure is interlocked at the wall andbottom joints. In the form. herein illustrated the outer sections of thetriangular end cleats I provide bevelled end posts, as do the bottom endcleats. The triangular cross-sectional construction of the cleatsthroughout provides end a loose hinge connection with one of saidbinding elements.

2. A sectional collapsible package comprising opposed side walls,flexible binding elements secured thereto and extending transverselyacross and between their top and bottom edges, longitudinally groovedcleats carried by said walls, a bottom detachably insertable betweensaid walls ,to rest 'on said binding elements, cleats on said bottom andgrooved in registry with the wall cleats-and detachable panelsinsertable in all said cleat grooves and providing tenons joining saidwalls and bottom.

3. Acollapsible package comprising opposed sidewall sections, tiedflexible binding elements secured theretoand extending across andbetween their top and bottom edges, a bottom detachably insertablebetween said walls to seat on said binding elements, and end panelsdetachably engageable with said walls and bottom.

4. A collapsible package comprising opposed side wall sections, tiedflexible binding elements secured thereto and extending across andbetween their top and bottomedges, a bottom detachably insertablebetween said Walls to seat on said binding elements, end panelsdetachably engageable with said walls and bottom, and a lid hinged onone of said binding elements between the walls.

5. In a collapsible package, opposed side walls, cleats thereon andprovided with grooves longitudinally thereof, a bottom extending betweensaid walls, said bottom having its edges recessed to engage over saidside wall cleats, cleats on said bottom and provided with longitudinalgrooves in registry with the wall cleat grooves, and panels insertablein all said grooves to interlock said Walls and bottom. a

6. In a collapsible package, opposed side walls, flexible bindingelements tying said walls to gether, a cleat on each said wall andsubstantially triangular in cross section, a detachable bottominsertable between said walls perpendicular thereto, a cleat on saidbottom in registry with the wall cleats, said bottom and bottom cleatbeing notched in conformity with the shape of the wall cleats to engagethereover, and panel means insertable between said Walls to engage allsaid cleats.

JACK W. SIM IONS.

